Smoked Porter
Big Al Brewing

 

Poured from 22oz bomber into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: very rich, dark brown with a good haze and a finger of frothy brown foam atop. I quite like it.

Smell: lightly chocolatey with a bit of a toasty, nutty malt aroma. The smoke is relatively light but overall it's quite nice.

Taste: nicely roasty with a little bit of chocolate. There's some toastiness and a fair bit of astringency toward the end; it's a decent porter by itself. The smoke is really subtle, here, though; I would like to have more of it.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a moderate carbonation and a decent creaminess.

Overall: a standard, pretty solid-drinking porter. For me, though, the smoke could be stronger.

 

 

 

While a very dark brown, this beer reveals its status as a traditional porter in its softer edges and highlights. A nice, creamy tan head reaches one finger and shows good retention. It fades down to a foam that clings to the edges and leaves patchy lacing.
The smoke is the key element, but sitting over the roasty malt backbone without dominating it. There's just a touch of peat in here as well and very light notes of cocoa. A good balance is struck between letting smoke have center stage and letting the aromas all come together.
The flavor tends to take a little char into the finish with just the lightest touch of astringency. It doesn't get too tangy, a pleasant observation since smoked beers tend that way if not done quite properly. The smoke makes for the primary flavor as much as it does the aroma. All in all well done, needing just a bit of cleaning up.
Carbonation is good, but the feel is this beer's weakest aspect as an astringent edge comes out and it turns out to be a little too thin for a porter. It needs a little (not much) more heft, but really could just use more smoothness and to tone down the crispness a notch.

 

 

 

Appearance has a dark brown color leaving hardley any head that dissipates quickly leaving nil lace. Smell of mainly the smoke, peat and roasted malt. Taste again of the smoke with the peat that really comes through kinda has the flavor note of smoked bacon. Mouthfeel is medium with good carbonation. If your a fan of smoked beer this is a good one to try

 

 

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out dark nigh-black with three fingers of fluffy sand colored foam on top that lasts for about two minutes with mediocre lacing left behind on the glass. Strangely light and watery body with medium levels of carbonation.

Smells and tastes of a medium level of ashy cigarette smoke with a slightly metallic tinge to it. The flavor does have an additional component of powdery cocoa and roasted malt that wasn't present in the nose, and it is much drier than the nose presented. However, it also has a dollop of mineral-laden shrimp stock flavor in the background that is somewhat disturbing and poorly integrated. I've had better (and worse) smoked beers than this one. It's just not quite memorable enough in a positive way to stand out from the crowd of similar offerings.

Pours an average looking dark brown, with a small off white, beige head. The aroma was, well, boring really. There's little smokiness to the nose, and I can't get really any chocolate or roasted notes. There's a mineral-y, somewhat metallic note to it that's a bit off-putting. Pretty much the same for the taste: slight smoke (and really only on a fresh pour), only a hint of porter sweetness, and finishes with a mineral, metallic note. It had a decent feel, maybe medium, though a bit thin. Carbonation was moderate. Overall, very disappointed in purchasing this. Just seemed like a very minimalistic smoked porter.

Very deep, dark brown, almost black when poured. The two-finger, mocha-colored head shrank to 1/4" before too long. Some faint hickory, charcoal, and peat scents. This is an easy-going smoked porter, not too intense on the scorched wood and smoke on the initial taste, but there is an aftertaste of dry, sweet-and-sour mesquite smoke that's quite pleasant. Some malty sweetness, but not cloyingly so. Some bitter chocolate here and there. Very mild carbonation, some nice lacing. Very drinkable, and a decent price for an above-average smoked porter.

Serving type - 22 oz bomber poured into glass.

A - Pours a deep, dark brown, with a nice, moderately thick sepia head. Retention is so-so.

S - Smell is of smoked malts, espresso, and subtle cocoa

T - Taste is of moderately smokey malts, espresso, and subtle toffee notes

M - Mouthfeel is smooth and slick. Medium-full bodied, w/light carbonation. Easy drinking overall.

O - A basic, but not too shabby smoked porter. Would drink again.

Poured a rich, dark brown with a finger of light tan head. Slightly sweet aroma with caramel, coffee, and mild smoke.

Moderate carbonation and a slightly thin mouthfeel. Cocoa and gentle smoke up front with some toffee sweetness and a touch of bitter coffee on the finish.

Light and smooth, but I was left wanting a little more punch from the smoke. Pleasant and easy-drinking, though.

pours a rich, dark brown, near black, with a ruddy dark brown finger-thick head with nice retention. lacing is there, but subtle.

aroma is smokey, peaty, almost bacon-y, with those rich sweet porter undertones. almost smells like a euro baltic with some smoke.

taste is rich, luscious, and velvety layers of smoked malt intermingling with porter sweetness and a pleasant and adequate level of hops to give some bitterness and cut through the touch of smokey salt. I don't personally think it's oversmoked, but I'm a big fan of smoked brews in general.

mouth is a bit light, thin, and watery for the flavors. it doesn't quite stand up, and the fine but heavy carbonation doesn't help much.

all in all, this is definitely a smoked beer first, a porter second. which I personally love. smooth and rich, full of flavor, nicely balanced (although definitely heavy on the smoke). this one just works nicely for me. if it was a bit thicker and chewier, it would be amazing. regardless, I'll order it again if I see it.

Pours from growler an almost opaque jet black with intense dark brown highlights visible under strong light. The cream coloured head slowly collapses back to a generous fluffy top - a visually stunning beer, leaving you with no doubt this is going to be a dense beverage.

Smell is of delicate coffee and very faint hints of a dark sweetness, like a cup of Colombian coffee sweetened with molasses.

Taste follows through on the promise of the smell, rich coffee, dark chocolate, and a dark molasses-y sweetness sneaking in just at the aftertaste.

Goes down really smoothly with gentle carbonation providing a lightening on the palate.

A wonderful beer, and I am looking forward to trying it with smoked ribs.